Stories

Cecil Orez Walters

Cecil Orez Walters, the son of Willie Walters and Willie Singleton Carr, was born on 19 August 1920 in Taylor County, Texas. Cecil O Walters can be found at the age of 9 on the 1930 Eastland, Eastland County, Texas Census. He went on to graduate Eastland High School. Cecil Walters can also be found on the 1940 Eastland, Eastland County, Texas Census living with his parents. Cecil Walters father Willie Walters owned a Grocery Store and Cecil was a Butcher in the Store. Cecil Walters enlisted on 23 January 1942 in the Army Air Corps at Dallas, Texas. Cecil Walters went on to become a B-17 “Flying Fortress” Pilot. Between March 1943 and 29 July 1943, Cecil had flown approximately 14 missions. On about 23 August 1943, Cecil Walters mother Willie Singleton Carr Walters was notified by the War Department that her son was Missing in Action in the European Theater. On Saturday, 6 November 1943, there was a Ceremony at the Abilene Army Air Base, Texas and Mrs. W. W. Walters was presented the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster which was awarded to her son First Lieutenant Cecil Walters. On 29 July 1943 1st Lt. Cecil Walters was Killed in Action while flying a B-17 F Series “Flying Fortress” over the English Channel. This information is Corroborated by Footnote.com’s Missing Air Crew Reports, WW II (1943, 43-30370, Pages 2-3), 43-30370 should read 42-30370. The Missing Air Crew Report states that 1st Lt. Cecil Walters was Stationed at Army Air Force Station # 138 as part of the 8th Air Force. More specifically First Lieutenant Cecil Walters was in Group: Ninety Sixth, 338th Bomber Squadron. On 29 July 1943 the Flight Crew had departed Station # 138 in their B-17 F Series, Serial Number 42-30370 on a Mission, their destination being Warnenunde, Germany. Off of the English Coast they collided with another B-17 “Flying Fortress” from the 388th Bomb Group. There were 10 Crew Members and 1 Passenger aboard. This catastrophic event was witnessed by several other pilots and or flight crews as stated in the report. The Passenger List of B-17 Airplane #42-30370 is as follows:

Pilot Walters, Cecil 1st Lt Serial # 0-664094

Co-Pilot Olsen, James Clay 2nd Lt Serial # 0-637315

Navigator Boland, Jerome Handley 2nd Lt Serial # 0-796474

Bombardier McIlvaine, John Charles, Jr 1st Lt Serial # 0-661645

Observer Lewis, Joseph K 2nd Lt Serial # 0-2044426

Radio Operator Lewis, Ralph Edward T/Sgt Serial # 4-31077856

Asst Engineer Goodman, Barnett Henry T/Sgt Serial # 35285949

Engineer Wolozyn, Joseph Anthony S/Sgt Serial # 13087777

Asst Radio Oper Domenick, Rowland S/Sgt Serial # 35390046

Asst Armorer Truitt, Joseph Hamilton S/Sgt Serial # 35487257

Armorer Wade, Frank G. Jr S/Sgt Serial # 38204123

There is a Headstone in the Eastland City Cemetery, Eastland County, Texas for 1st Lt Cecil Walters. It is next to his parents burial places.